Introduction

Europe was far different in the 1500-1600s than it is in our modern day, and even more so in the parallel world that Elysia takes place in. As such, it is imperative to grasp some of the basic nuances that makes up Europe of the time period. However, it's not necessary to have a history degree either. Here is a basic overview of Europe in the world of EC.

Geography

Europe is generally defined as the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, with its boundaries marked by large bodies of water to the north, west and south; Europe's limits to the far east are usually taken to be the Urals, the Ural River, and the Caspian Sea; to the southeast, the Caucasus Mountains, the Black Sea and the waterways connecting the Black Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. In addition, people living in insular areas such as Ireland, Britain, the North Atlantic and Mediterranean islands and also in Scandinavia may routinely refer to "continental" or "mainland" Europe simply as Europe or "the Continent".

All of Scandinavia and the Baltic region, as well as much of Western Russia is now controlled by the Novare Imperium.

Climate

Europe lies mainly in the temperate climate zones, being subjected to prevailing westerlies.

The climate is milder in comparison to other areas of the same latitude around the globe due to the influence of the Gulf Stream. The Gulf Stream is nicknamed "Europe's central heating", because it makes Europe's climate warmer and wetter than it would otherwise be. The Gulf Stream not only carries warm water to Europe's coast but also warms up the prevailing westerly winds that blow across the continent from the Atlantic Ocean.

Geology

Europe's most significant feature is the dichotomy between highland and mountainous Southern Europe and a vast, partially underwater, northern plain ranging from the British Isles in the west to the Ural Mountains in the east. These two halves are separated by the mountain chains of the Pyrenees and Alps/Carpathians. The northern plains are delimited in the west by the Scandinavian Mountains and the mountainous parts of the British Isles. Major shallow water bodies submerging parts of the northern plains are the Celtic Sea, the North Sea, the Baltic Sea complex and Barents Sea.

The northern plain contains the old geological continent of Baltica, and so may be regarded geologically as the "main continent", while peripheral highlands and mountainous regions in the south and west constitute fragments from various other geological continents. Most of the older geology of Western Europe existed as part of the ancient microcontinent Avalonia.

History

It is not known when furres first inhabited Europe. There are records dating back at least 2000 years of early primitive societies, predominantly furre and avian.

Though mirrored on real-world history, the entire Western Hemisphere has taken up a -drastic- alternate reality to IRL history. All over the world, nations look different as a result of the interference of magicke, the supernatural, and funny talking animal people. In Europe, many empires are less than they were. Some never came to be at all. Most strikingly, the Novare Imperium of Scandinavia looms over the Kingdoms of the Renaissance, threatening to plunge them back into another violent, savage Dark Age. For more on this please see Effect of the Supernatural on History.

Since the Renaissance, Europe has had a major influence in culture, economics and social movements in the world. Not just in the old world continents, but into Elysia and Stara-Ziema as well. Many Elysians are of European decent. European demographics are important not only historically, but also in understanding current international relations and population issues.

The Major Kingdoms of Europe

There are hundreds of small kingdoms and fiefdoms that make up the lands of Europe, but there are nine major realms who have the majority of the landscape under their control. The fledgling British Empire (PALE GREEN), the proud Tsardom of Muscovy (BROWN) , the Commonwealth of Poland(YELLOW), the Kingdom of France (CYAN), the Holy Alliance of Castille (Spain and Italy) (BRIGHT BLUE), and the two world-dominating forces of the Ottoman Empire (ORANGE) and the Novari Empire (DARK BLUE). To better understand these nations, they will be outlined below. However, the Novari Empire will be best explained here, where you can learn of the island of Svalbard, their politics, and their people.

Kingdom of Great Britain

(Marked in Pale Green)
The British Empire is in its infancy, but still commands one of the most respectably sized navies and some of the larger trading guilds in the world. Their growth has been retarded somewhat by the constant threat of Novari incursion into their lands. They have been both warmongers among the other European states, as well as eager brokers of peace. Their focus has of late been on the latter, with both the Novari on their horizon and the Ottomans on that of their allies. The British have some early trade relationships with the Rephan Empire, astonishingly, and as a result have lent some aid to Elysia in hopes they will keep the island nation as a friendly waypoint on the way to Stara Ziema.

Ottoman State

(Marked in Orange)
A remnant of the Roman Empire's eastern front, the Ottomans, typically with different religious and cultural beliefs, have become a force to be reckoned with. They control all of real-world Turkey, much of the middle East, North Africa, and much of the Balkans.Their capital of Suljek is deep within eastern Europe, thousands of miles from their ever-expanding front lines. There, their Emperor Suleyman plots the destruction of the Novari, and stubbornly forsakes any aid in this task.

Kingdom of France

(Marked in Green)
One of the oldest nations in Europe, France is the successor state of Gauls and Franks, previous furre peoples of the dark ages. Typically at war with the British over land rights and religion both, the French have entered the Peace of Eastfall, to better safeguard against the threat of the Novari. Part of France seceded and became Dunmoore several centuries ago.

(Marked in Pink)
Independent kingdom residing in modern day southern France, Dunmoore is noted for its gorgeous countryside. Dunmoore was recently locked in a civil war after a coup d'etat by brother of the Crown Princess. In recent years, the country has stabilized, and is back into the hands of proper succession, and the Dunmoore people.

(Marked in Dark blue)
A mysterious event in the 12th century, on the tiny far-North island of Svalbard unleashed Novare on the world. Powered by their access to forbidden sorcery, the Novari King is ruthless, cunning, and in possession of vast magicke and technology.
Their magickally-animated Golems, fierce Daruni warriors and powerful Court Warlocks are a menace spoken of all cross Europe, with so many nations having fallen victim to the Novari vision of European conquest. All of Scandinavia is under their vicious heel, and their territories are ever-expanding. See article for more.

Holy Alliance of Castille

(Marked in Bright Blue)
The Spanish House of Castille bested their rival, Berille for succession to the crown of Spain and Portugal both. Their victory celebrations were cut short by Novari aggression. The Novari unleashed their savagery on the Spanish South, and took Gibraltar from Castillian control. Soon after, Castille formed an alliance with the many fiefdoms of Italy and formed the Holy Alliance of Castille, across cultural, religious, and most importantly military lines.

Tsardom of Muscovy

(Marked in Brown)
After having undergone a century of Novari encroachment, the many Russian principalities threw their lot in with a new union of states. The Tsardom, however, quickly proved not much better than the Novari, their Tsar a tyrant like any other, and an incompetent one who has managed to lose much of their front to Novare expansion.

Commonwealth of Poland

(Marked in Yellow)
Originally a union of Baltic states, the Old Kingdom of Poland and Lithuania was rendered irrelevant after the Novare sieged all three Baltic nations. Poland is divided by the Novari's front line, and thought fights valiantly to secure the remainder of its land, the Poles require immediate aid from their scatter-brained European neighbours.

The Austro-Teuton Empire and Germany

(Marked Grey for now)
Under one central Austrian dynasty, much of that country, Germany, Switzerland and Eastern Europe fell under the greedy yoke of the Austrian Empire, another ailing remnant of fallen Rome. With hundreds of thousands of German and Austrian furres ruled over by one single family, something had to give sooner or later. That something was Gerhardt Starr, a Westphalian rat General who took it upon himself to rouse the army in a military coup. They took much of Germany back from the Austrian dynasty, and campaigned for public support with appeals to religious strife and alienation. Starr himself was strongly inspired by the Elysian Revolution, and at times modeled his public image after that of King Xavier I] of Elysia. Much of Austria still lives under Imperial rule, however.

Other Nations of Note

(Marked in Grey)
Greece remains independent from the Ottomans, while Ireland has wrested her freedom from the British Empire. Italy, for the most part, is committed to the Alliance of Castille, though many of her city-states refuse to truly participate. Other divisions, such as the religious schism between different sects of the Old Temple faith, create different sorts of alliances. Borders swell and shrink with such frequency that the definition of a nation changes day by day. These are the consequences of living in a world that is shared by Novare.